La cueva de los verdes

La cueva de los verdes is part of the same underground volcanic tube as the Jameos del Agua and were formed by the eruptions of the Volcán de la Corona (corona Volcano) in the North of lanzarote in Haria town, between 3000 and 4500 years ago. The appearance of Green Caves is due to the fact of the cooling and solidification of a molten lava stream with air. This made a group of caves and galleries with outstanding characteristics in the lower levels.

The green caves were embellished by the artist Jesus Soto in 1964, and so it has also become a centre of Art, culture and tourism of the Cabildo of Lanzarote.

From the 17th century on these caves which we are visiting now were used by the older locals to hide from slave haunters and Berber pirates from the North of Africa, as the local historian Agustin de la Hoz says. Nowadys, we can walk 2 kilometres into the green caves where we can see the most peculiar geologic parts and some of the most relevant and historical data. This visit takes us through narrow passage ways which reach an auditorium and from where you go back to the entrance by a different gallery at a higher level.from the auditorium there is only one level which brings you to the Volcan de la Corona.

Along the route we see very interesting places. Their place names make reference to historical, literary or geologic facts which have happened during Green Caves history. These are known by Sala de los Estetas, el Soplo de Dios, la garganta de la muerte, la puerta mora and so on. A natural cavern with a great quality of sound may be found. There part of the Musica Visual festival takes place. The temperature inside the caves remains at a constant 188 208 C through the year. While visiting the cave you can feel the movement of fresh air which creates an amazing feeling of wellbeing.

After looking at the walls of La cueva de los Verdes, you get the feeling that these have been created by a sculptor´s wild hands.

The fanciful shapes produced by the lava inside the cave are set off by the lighting designed by Jesus Soto; this and the musical effects may well be considered an authentic work of art.

The characteristics of this natural wonder are outstanding from a geological point of view, as we can see if we just stare at its many corners full of stafilites, the overthrows and the rivers of solidified lava. Besides this cueva de los verdes is a volcanic tube of a worldwide geological interest and subject to many scientific investigations.

The central point of the station of geophysics of Lanzarote is inside the cave. New techniques for the earth studies are international scientific centres, by means of some hundred sensors installed inside the grotto.

THINGS TO DO IN LANZAROTE: